Those attending the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show this week just got the first look at a vehicle that could change the taxi industry in tropical countries. TUM CREATE, a joint research program by Technische Universitaet Muenchen and Nanyang Technological University, just unveiled its electric taxi prototype codenamed EVA. Resembling a typical 4-door smart car, EVA “is a result of interdisciplinary research in areas such as energy storage, battery charging, thermal management, and lightweight materials and design,” according to Magma Group. Among other impressive amenities, EVA comes complete with a super-fast charging system that gives the car 200 km of travel after just 15 minutes of plug-in time.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/super-fast-charging-eva-electric-taxi-unveiled-at-the-tokyo-motor-show/feed/0Gaza’s First Electric Vehicle Built from Recycled Materials For $1,000http://inhabitat.com/gazas-first-electric-vehicle-built-from-recycled-materials-for-1000/
http://inhabitat.com/gazas-first-electric-vehicle-built-from-recycled-materials-for-1000/#commentsTue, 11 Sep 2012 21:18:28 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=435054A 32-year-old taxi driver has created Gaza's first electric vehicle in the face of a major fuel crisis. Munther al-Qassas decided that investing in an electric taxi would be cheaper and less time consuming than spending hours waiting in line for petrol. Despite]]>

A 32-year-old taxi driver has created Gaza‘s first electric vehicle in the face of a major fuel crisis. Munther al-Qassas decided that investing in an electric taxi would be cheaper and less time consuming than spending hours waiting in line for petrol. Despite holding a degree in political science, Qassas was able to build the car from recycled materials in a workshop on the roof of his home over several months.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/gazas-first-electric-vehicle-built-from-recycled-materials-for-1000/feed/2China Launches Trial Electric Taxi Program in Shenzhenhttp://inhabitat.com/china-launches-trial-clean-e-taxi-program-in-shenzhen/
http://inhabitat.com/china-launches-trial-clean-e-taxi-program-in-shenzhen/#commentsWed, 29 Jun 2011 17:05:47 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=270265China a world leader in clean vehicle production? Well, that’s the aim. As China moves to reduce their swelling greenhouse gas emissions, the central government has announced they will commit 1.5billion dollars annually to developing the electric vehicle]]>

China a world leader in clean vehicle production? Well, that’s the aim. As China moves to reduce their swelling greenhouse gas emissions, the central government has announced they will commit 1.5billion dollars annually to developing the electric vehicle industry over the next ten years. Kicking off the program in Shenzhen — one of the fastest growing cities in the world — the government has just put a trial electric taxi project in play. If successful, the program will result in half a million electric vehicles and plugins throughout the country by 2015.